The Seven Under The Shade Of Allaah Almighty www.islamweb.net

1. The seven under the Shade of Allaah
Almighty
On the Day of Resurrection, all people
that ever lived will be gathered before
Allaah to await His judgment for all they
have done or said during their lives.
During this time, the sun will come very
close to the people (as close as one mile
according to some narrations).
People will want to get away from the
heat of the sun but there will be no
Shade or shelter to go to and they will
start sweating in proportion to their
sins. The more sins a person has the
more he or she will sweat.
During this traumatic time, however, the
seven groups of people who are
mentioned in the following Hadeeth
(Prophetic narration) will be completely
immune to the sun’s heat and they will
be in complete comfort.
These people will be in such comfort
because they will be enjoying the only
shade available on that day and that is
the Shade of Allaah . They will enjoy

2. such an honor because of their piety and
obedience to Allaah while they were in
this life.
The Prophet said: “There are seven
whom Allaah will shade in His Shade on
the Day when there is no shade except
His Shade: a just ruler; a youth who grew
up in the worship of Allaah, the Mighty
and Majestic; a man whose heart is
attached to the mosques; two men who
love each other for Allaah's sake,
meeting for that and parting upon that; a
man who is called by a woman of beauty
and position [for illegal intercourse], but
be says: 'I fear Allaah'; a man who gives
in charity and hides it, such that his left
hand does not know what his right hand
gives in charity; and a man who
remembered Allaah in private and so his
eyes shed tears.” [Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim]
In this beautiful narration, the Prophet
spoke about small acts of worship which
result in such a huge reward: shade on
the Day when there will be no shade
except His Shade, i.e., the Shade of His
Throne.
This may not seem like much at first but
then reflect upon the following

3. narration: “On the Day of Resurrection,
the sun would draw so close to the
people that there would be left a
distance of only one mile. The people
will be submerged in perspiration
according to their deeds, some up to
their ankles, some up to their knees,
some up to the waist and some would
have the bridle of perspiration (and,
while saying this, the Messenger of
Allaah put his hand towards his
mouth).” [Muslim]
Let us examine now the characteristics
and virtues of these seven categories of
people who will be worthy of such an
exalted position on the Day of Gathering.
1. A Just Ruler:
The concept of Justice in Islam is very
important and it is something which the
Muslim - Ruler and the ruled - must apply
in all matters without exception. Justice
means to give each the right he
deserves: Muslim or non-Muslim, relative
or stranger, friend or enemy. Allaah Says
(what means): "...And do not let hatred
cause you to act unjustly, that is nearer
to piety." [Quran 5:8]

4. Unfortunately, even if we admit this in
theory, we quickly forget it in practice.
So we find that when we speak about our
friends and loved ones, we praise them
beyond reason and when we speak about
those whom we hold difference with, we
can find no good in them and we just
capitalize on their bad points.
The Prophet said: “Allaah does not
bless a people among whom a weak man
is not given his right." [At-Tirmithi]
The concept of justice is most important
for the Ruler, since he is in charge of his
people and the primary disposer of
justice in the land. For this reason, the
Ruler is given special mention as one of
the seven who will be honored with
Allaah's Shade.
2. A youth who grew up in the worship of
Allaah:
The great scholar, Imaam Ayyoob As-
Sakhtiyaani (d.131H) stated: 'From the
success of a youth is that Allaah guides
him to a scholar of the Sunnah (to study
under and learn from).'
Indeed, it is a great blessing from Allaah
for a youth be guided towards worship

5. and be befriended by the righteous,
since it is in youth that a person is most
vulnerable to the temptations of life and
liable to drift away from the Islamic
Path. This becomes apparent when we
look at society around us and we see
that most of the worldly distractions,
such as music, games, clubs, fashion
etc. are all specifically targeted at the
young.
'You're only young once!' they are told,
which is why many Muslims nowadays
waste their youth thinking that they will
pray, wear Hijaab and go on Hajj, etc.
when they are old, as if they have a
guarantee of longevity from Allaah! How
well we would do to heed the Prophet's
advice when he said: “Take benefit of
five before five: your youth before your
old age, your health before your
sickness, your wealth before your
poverty, your free time before you are
preoccupied and your life before your
death.” [Al-Haakim]
3. A man whose heart is attached to the
mosques:
There is great encouragement in the
Sunnah for men to pray in the mosques
and the reward associated with it is

6. tremendous. Not only does it make the
person eligible for Allaah's Shade on the
day of Judgement, but also: “he does not
take a step [towards the mosque except
that because of it, he is raised by one
rank and one sin is removed from him.
Then when he prays, the Angels do not
cease supplicating for him [for] as long
as he remains at his place of Prayer
[sayings]: O Allaah send blessings upon
him, O Allaah have mercy upon him...”
[Al-Bukhaari]
It must be emphasized here however,
that all the narrations encouraging the
men to be attached to the mosques are
not intended to lead one to the
conclusion that Islam is a Religion which
should be confined to the mosques, as
many people imagine. Nonetheless, the
mosque should be at the heart of the
Muslim community, and the role of those
in authority of the mosques is vital here.
They are the ones mainly responsible for
making the mosque a welcome refuge for
the Muslims.
4. Two men who love each other for
Allaah's sake, meeting for that and
parting upon that:

7. Allaah Almighty Says (what means): “The
believers are nothing else than brothers,
so make reconciliation between your
brothers, and fear Allaah, that you may
receive mercy." [Quran 49:10]
Having mutual love for the sake of
Allaah is one of the great doors leading
to the good of the Hereafter and a cause
of tasting the sweetness of faith in this
world. Loving one another for Allaah's
sake means that the Muslim does not
love another except for the correctness
of his religion. So it does not matter
what the person looks like, what he
wears, how rich or poor he is, where he
comes from, or what the color of his skin
is - perhaps you dislike things about him,
but you love him for his belief in Allaah:
this is loving for Allaah's sake. 'Allaah,
the Mighty and Magnificent Says in a
Sacred Narration: "Those who have
mutual love for the sake of My Glory will
have minarets of light and will be envied
by the Prophets and martyrs." [At-
Tirmithi & Ahmad]
Imagine being envied by Allaah's chosen
Messengers and those who were slain in
His Path! Such is the reward of those
who love one another for Allaah's sake.

8. 5. A man who is called (seduced) by a
woman of beauty and position but he
says: 'I fear Allaah':
Allaah Says (what mean): “And come not
near to the adultery. Verily, it is a
shameful (deed) and an evil way (that
leads one to Hell).” [Quran 17:32]
This world is full of temptations that
lead to burning in the Fire and amongst
them is that which comes from women.
Many a man has led his soul into
destruction on account of the lure of a
woman, which is why the Prophet
warned his nation specifically about
this. He said: “The world is sweet and
green and verily Allaah is going to install
you as successors upon it in order to see
how you act. So avoid the allurement of
women: verily the first trial for the
Children of Israa'eel was caused by
women.” [Muslim]
The most important provision which we
need to protect ourselves from this and
all other temptations in life is the fear of
Allaah. This fact is alluded to in the
following verse (what means): “And as
for him who feared standing before his
Lord and restrained himself from impure

9. evil desires, verily Paradise will be his
abode.” [Quran 79:40]
6. A man who gives in charity and hides
it, such that his left hand does not know
what his right hand gives in charity:
This describes the type of person who
goes to great lengths to protect himself
from ostentation and showing off in
worship. Being ostentations is to do
deeds in order to earn the praise and
recognition of people. This sin destroys
all the benefits that lie in righteous
deeds and brings on a serious
punishment for the one who commits it.
It is particularly dangerous because it is
in man's nature to desire and enjoy the
praise of others.
Thus, great care has to be taken to
ensure that one's intentions begin and
remain pure whenever good actions
(such as charity) are being done. Allaah
warns (what means): “O you who believe!
Do not render vain your charity by
reminders of your generosity or by
injury, like him who spends his wealth to
be seen of men and he does not believe
in Allaah nor in the Last Day.” [Quran
2:264]

10. 7. A man who remembered Allaah in
private and so his eyes shed tears:
Our noble Prophet informed us: “If you
knew what I knew, you would laugh little
and weep much.” [Al-Bukhaari] Crying is
not a sissy thing to do! The Prophet
who was the best of all creation, would
weep, as would all of his Companions.
Tears are a genuine expression of fear of
Allaah's Punishment and of our sincere
love and awe of Him.
But how often do we remember Allaah in
seclusion and are then moved to tears?
How much do we laugh and how little do
we weep? The Prophet said: "There is
nothing more beloved to Allaah than two
drops and two marks: A tear shed due to
fear of Allaah, and a drop of blood
spilled in the path of Allaah. And as for
the two marks, then a mark caused in
the path of Allaah, and a mark caused by
fulfilling one of the duties made
obligatory by Allaah." [At-Tirmithi]
Finally, through these seven types of
people mentioned in the narration, we
have been given clear signposts of the
way to attain Allaah's pleasure and
satisfaction. So you should devote
yourself to being one amongst those

11. seven, for indeed fortunate will be those
who are granted Allaah's Shade on the
Day when there will be no shade but His.
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